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Quick HitMatthew BlakeTuesday March 20th, 2012, 1:28pm

Turnout 'Shockingly Bad' In 39th District IL House Race (VIDEO)

Despite gorgeous sunshine and record warmth, voters were few and far
between at two polling places in Illinois’ 39th House district this
morning. The 39th features
a strong challenge from 24 year-old political newbie Will Guzzardi
against 10-year incumbent Toni Berrios, son of Cook County Assessor Joe
Berrios.

Only a handful of voters showed up at two Logan Square
neighborhood polling places between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. this morning. A
Berrios volunteer, who declined to give his name, described the turnout
as “shockingly bad.” The volunteer wondered if most 39th District
residents were even aware there was an election today – despite
scattered campaign lawn signs across the Northwest Chicago district.

Two
voters who did cast their ballot said they chose Guzzardi, because
Berrios represents the “Chicago political machine,” in the words of
Logan Square resident Graeme Miller. “[Guzzardi] seems like the more
progressive option, although politically they might not differ that
much,” Miller says. “Would [Berrios] be a state representative if her
father wasn’t assessor? I would say ‘no.’”

Logan Square resident
Robert Swafford had similar sentiments. “I went with Guzzardi,” Swafford
says. “I had some issue with Berrios, and felt like she was the
insider."

“I got so many robo calls for Berrios and Guzzardi had
actual representatives calling me,” Swafford says. He added that he
was turned off that multiple local leaders robo called on behalf of
Berrios, including Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle.

Thirty-four year-old Antonio Arroyo said he voted Berrios, because Berrios is
Latino and could help provide “jobs and benefits” to other Latinos. This
is a critical issue, Arroyo says, in the majority Latino, but
gentrifying, Logan Square neighborhood.

“We’re looking at $1,000 and up in the
Logan Square boulevard area for a one-bedroom apartment and not that
many Hispanics are getting educated to get a good job,” Arroyo says.